Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail (2nd L) and Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou look at the remains of a Russian airliner which crashed in central Sinai near El Arish city, north Egypt, October 31, 2015. The Airbus A321, operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia under the brand name Metrojet, carrying 224 passengers crashed into a mountainous area of Egypt’s Sinai peninsula on Saturday shortly after losing radar contact near cruising altitude, killing all aboard. REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

ISLAMIC State militants have claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian passenger plane which crashed in Egypt killing 224 people. Putin declared a day of national mourning for Sunday. The passengers included 214 Russians and three Ukrainians.

The Kremlin is defending its right to protect its people and interests in Russia and abroad. Intelligence officials have reported that Russia is moving its tactical nuclear units closer to its international boundaries. Putin has…